Yes — a person saved out of immorality is fully in God's grace from the moment of salvation, but spiritual maturity is not immediate; it comes through a gradual process of growth that the Spirit of God produces.
Les Feldick explains that people saved out of abject paganism, idolatry, and immorality are not instantly transformed into spiritual giants. They come into the family of God as babes in Christ who need nurturing and nourishment, yet they are already under God's grace and the Spirit of God is the One who does the overcoming in their lives.
1 Corinthians 1:7-9 — Paul addresses believers who had been saved out of pagan immorality, assuring them that they lack no spiritual gift and that a faithful God will confirm them blamelessly to the end.
Paul's opening words to the Corinthians address them as believers who had been called by a faithful God. He writes, "So that ye come behind in no gift; waiting for the coming of our Lord Jesus Christ: Who shall also confirm you unto the end, that ye may be blameless in the day of our Lord Jesus Christ. God is faithful, by whom ye were called unto the fellowship of his Son Jesus Christ our Lord." The passage shows that believers coming out of that background were not left without spiritual gifts or without the confirming work of God.
Les emphasizes that every person saved by God's grace experiences all of God's grace at salvation; nothing is held back for later. But that does not mean they are spiritually mature at once. "You do not get born into the family of God a full, mature spiritual person. We all come into a salvation experience as babes in Christ." The Christian life is like physical life: a newborn requires tender care, nourishment, and protection before it grows. Les applies this to the Corinthians, who had been saved out of abject idolatry and immorality. They were still carnal and had hang-ups from their old life, but they were nevertheless "in grace, in grace." Paul could say they came behind in no gift. When it comes to actual change, Les points out that Paul's own speech was contemptible to some, yet "the Spirit of God did" the overcoming. A believer does not produce the change by working; God is the One who makes him a different person in outlook and desires. Growth is expected. God does not expect a new believer to stay a spiritual baby; he expects him to grow in grace, in knowledge, and in wisdom. Salvation is an event, while sanctification and growth is a process that takes time — longer for some than for others. Yet even while they are immature and still failing, Les stresses that Paul taught that all the Corinthian believers, not just the spiritual ones, would be taken if the Lord came.
No. Les says a person is not going to be a mature Christian overnight; it is going to take time. A new believer is like an infant who needs tender, loving care, nourishment, and protection. Salvation is an event, while sanctification and growth is a process that takes time, longer for some than for others.
Les points to the Spirit of God. Paul was not a polished orator, and some said his speech was contemptible, but the Spirit of God did the overcoming. In the same way, a person saved from the cesspool of sin and deadness becomes a totally different person in outlook and desires — but he does not work for that change; it comes from God.
Yes. Although the Corinthians were carnal and still had hang-ups with their former immoral practices, Les says they were still in grace. Paul wrote that they "come behind in no gift" and that God would confirm them to the end. Les concludes that if the Lord were to come, all of them would go, not only the more spiritual ones.
Les describes it as growth in grace, knowledge, and wisdom. New believers are babes in Christ who need nurturing and time to develop. The grace they received at salvation is the grace in which they continue to grow, even though some believers take much longer than others.
The Spirit of God Does the Overcoming
Paul's unpolished preaching worked because the Spirit of God did the overcoming, and Les says it is the same way for every believer, including those saved from immorality.
All of God's Grace at Salvation
People saved out of abject paganism and immorality receive all of God's grace at salvation and are not expected to be instantly mature; nurturing and growth take time, but only by grace.
Babes in Christ
No one is born into God's family as a full, mature spiritual person; everyone comes into the salvation experience as a babe in Christ.
Growth in Grace Is Expected
God does not expect a new believer to stay as he is; he expects him to grow in grace, knowledge, and wisdom.
Salvation Is an Event; Sanctification Is a Process
Salvation is a one-time event, while spiritual growth and sanctification is a process that takes time; believers begin as babes in Christ.
New Believers Are Spiritual Infants
A new believer is like an infant needing tender care, nourishment, and protection; maturity does not happen overnight, and God produces the new outlook and desires.
Carnal Believers Are Still in Grace
The Corinthians were still carnal and struggling with old practices, but they were in grace and came behind in no gift.
Immature Believers Will Not Be Left Behind
Though saved out of gross immorality and not instantly transformed into spiritual giants, Paul teaches that all the Corinthian believers would be taken if the Lord came.
1 Corinthians 1:7: So that ye come behind in no gift; waiting for the coming of our Lord Jesus Christ:
Paul assures believers saved out of paganism that they lack nothing in spiritual blessings, even while they are still growing.
1 Corinthians 1:8: Who shall also confirm you unto the end, that ye may be blameless in the day of our Lord Jesus Christ.
God's confirming work continues in immature believers; their blamelessness depends on His faithfulness, not on their maturity.
1 Corinthians 1:9: God is faithful, by whom ye were called unto the fellowship of his Son Jesus Christ our Lord.
The same faithful God who called these believers out of immorality is the guarantee of their continued standing in Christ.
1 Corinthians 2:4: And my speech and my preaching was not with enticing words of man's wisdom, but in demonstration of the Spirit and of power:
Paul's ministry model supports Les's point that the Spirit of God, not human polish, is what changes hearts.
No. Les says a person is not going to be a mature Christian overnight. New believers come into the Christian life as babes in Christ, as infants that need tender, loving care, nourishment, and protection. The Corinthians, saved out of abject immorality, still needed a time of nurturing and growth.
The Spirit of God does. Les uses Paul's example: Paul's speech was not polished, yet the Spirit of God did the overcoming. When someone is saved from the cesspool of sin, he becomes a totally different person in outlook and desires, but he does not work for that change — it comes from God.
Yes. Les says the Corinthian believers were still carnal and had hang-ups with their old immoral practices, but they were in grace. Paul told them they came behind in no gift, and Les concludes that if the Lord were to come, all of them would go.
Watch the Teaching: Why God Chooses the Foolish Over the Wise — 1 Corinthians 1:27-31